SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CA, April 18, 2023 – As of January 2023, new wildfire mitigation, insurance, and home inspection laws have officially been implemented for California residents. The Al Tahoe Firewise USA® Community and the City of South Lake Tahoe are hosting a community-wide event on Saturday, May 6 from 11:30am-3:30pm to explain the impacts of these new laws and provide information on how to prepare for wildfires and improve the survivability of your home.
California Insurance Commissioner, Ricardo Lara, is the keynote speaker for the event and will provide in-depth information about how being safer from wildfires can help your insurance. Commissioner Lara created a new insurance pricing regulation to recognize and reward wildfire safety and mitigation efforts made by homeowners and businesses. This regulation is the first in the nation requiring insurance companies to provide discounts to consumers under the Safer from Wildfires framework created by the California Department of Insurance in partnership with state emergency preparedness agencies.
Safer from Wildfires also includes community mitigation through the nationally recognized Firewise USA® program.
"Protecting Californians from deadly wildfires means everyone doing their part, including insurance companies by rewarding consumers for being safer from wildfires," said Commissioner Lara when he enforced the regulation. "My Department will work diligently to increase discounts to reward the hard work that California consumers do to protect their families, homes, businesses, and communities.”
California State Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil, special guest speaker, will discuss her efforts and collaboration with Commissioner Lara while serving on the Insurance Committee. State Senator Alvarado-Gil was recently elected in 2022 and represents the 4th district of California that includes the counties of Placer, El Dorado, Amador, Alpine, Calaveras, Tuolumne, Mariposa, Stanislaus, Madera, Mono, Merced, Nevada and Inyo.
The City of South Lake Tahoe’s Fire Marshal Kim George and Battalion Chief Karl Koeppen will present information on how to mitigate wildfires and create defensible space. Dianne Rees, Al Tahoe Community Firewise Leader, will provide details on how to form a Firewise USA® recognized district and the value it brings to communities.
All city and county residents and businesses are invited to attend this free and informative event. We also welcome other interested community members, including insurance underwriters, tree and landscape service providers, and realtors.
Event Agenda (subject to change):
11:30am Meet and Greet with Public
12:00-12:15pm Welcome and Opening Statements
12:15-12:45pm Special Guest Speaker- State Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil
12:45-1:30pm Keynote Speaker-Commissioner Ricardo Lara
1:30-1:45pm Break
1:45-2:00pm Presentation-Fire Marshal Kim George
2:00-2:15pm Presentation-Battalion Chief Karl Koeppen
2:15 -2:30pm Presentation and Q&A-Al Tahoe Community Firewise Leader, Dianne Rees
2:30-3:30pm Q&A, Closing Statements
Event will be held at the Recreation and Swim Complex, 1180 Rufus Allen Blvd. For further details, go to: www.altahoefirewise.com or www.cityofslt.us.